String-instrument key



I AIANAGNOST/ STRING'WSTRUMENT KEY. APPLICATION FIL'ED -mrc. II, 1920.

Patented Se t. I 19 vwevdcoz gaw gposzieflrm maai Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

- Aros'rLE ANAGNOST, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

STRING-INSTRUMENT KEY.

Application filed December 11, 1920. Serial No. 429,960.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, APOSTLE ANAeNosT, a subject of King of Greece. and resident of 455 West 21st Street, New York, in the county of New York and State of New York have invented certain new and useful Improvements in String-Instrument Keys,

of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed instrument keys particularly adapted for violins and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a string instrument key which is efiicient in operation and effective in producing fine adjustments of the string of a musical instrument. i

Another object of this invention is to provide in such a device a; frame ada ted to fit within the peg box of a stringe strument and to support rotatable elements.

A further object of this invention is to provide insuch a. device worm and worm wheel elements rotatably supported bv said frame and adapted to coact or cooperate with each other, the latter element being provided with a drum or cylindrical extension. v

Still further objects of this invention are to provide in such a device means for facilltating the manual operation of the UIPI element, and means secured in the drum extension of the worm wheel element for attaching one end of an instrument string.

A further object of this invention is to provide a e which is adapted to pass through sulta le openings in the peg box and facilitate the support of the frame and the worm wheel element.

The above and further objects in view will more fully be understood from the following description together with the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification and in which? Figure 1 is a perspective view of this invention secured in'the; peg box of a string instrument.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a frame used in this invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view ofv a blank fromwhich the frame is formed.

Figure 5 is a view showing a preferred pin attached to the drum extension of a worm wheel.

Figure 6 shows views of other suitable pins.

In the drawings there is disclosed a suitable frame or yoke 10 designed so as to be secured within the peg box 11 of a stringed instrument. This frame serves as a support and bearings for the various parts hereinafter specifically referred to and which forms part of this invention.

This frame is made from a blank cut from a thin sheet metal plate or other suitable material by executing suitable bending, shaping and similar operations thereupon, by means of suitable dies, so as to cause the blank to assume the form of the finished frame.

Figure 4: shows the frame flattened out but the blank from which the frame is formed may depart somewhat from this shape, so long as it serves the purposes re quired of it in this invention. The frame 10 is provided with two oppositely disposed spaced side arms 12 bent parallel to each' other and having at their free ends circular openings 13. Frame 10 is also provided at its back portion 12' with two oppositely disposed projecting members or dependent ears 14 bent inwardly and right angularly to back 12 of the frame and cut away at their free ends as indicated by the numeral 15 in the drawings.

Rotatably supported and mounted in frame 10 is the worm Wheel 16. preferably made hollow. Worm wheel 16 is provided with a cylindrical or drum extension 16 and is reduced at its ends 17 so as to fit into circularopenings 13 of arms 12, thereby preventing it from moving laterally. When worm wheel'lG is thus supported its toothed portion 17 is alined with the cut away portion 15 of projecting members 14. In the drum portion and near the toothed portion of worm wheel 16 there is provided a hole. 18 within which is fitted a suitable pin 19.

Rotatably supported by projecting members 14 of frame 10 is worm 20 which is provided with a head 21 flat-sided, milled or the like, so that Worm 20 may be turned by the thumb and forefinger. Norm 20 has reduced ends similar to worm wheel 16 and for a like purpose.

The threaded portion of worm 20 is positioned between projecting members 14%, at its cut away portions 15 while head 21 protrudes upwardly therefrom.

Owing to the position oi: projecting members 14 on it nine 10, the threads of worm 20 supported thereby, engages and is adapted to coact with the teeth of worm wheel. 16.

Peg 22 is shaped so to extend through circular openings 13 of arms 12 and the hollow of worm wheel 16 and remain secured in position without interfering with the rotation of the worm wheel. This may be accomplished by taking an ordinary peg used with the instrument and reducing by suitable means that portion which engages worm wheel 16.

Peg 22 facilitates the other parts of the herein described device being held in position. lowerer, be it understood that the other parts of my d ivice may be used in combination as a unit without the peg.

All the parts oi? the combination. with the exception of peg 22, may be assembled before the device is placed in the peg box and secured to the latter.

Operation: One end of the ii'istrument string is secured to the tail piece of the instrument and its other end passed through the enclosed space 23 formed by the toothed portion 17 and drum extension 16 of worm wheel 16 and pin 19, the string being secured to the latter. Worm 20 is then caused to turn by manually operating head 21. W'orm 20 being in engagement with toothed portion 17 ot' worm wheel causes the latter to rotate. The string is thereby wound around tubular or drum extension 16 until made taut. By operating worm 20 in either direction the string may be tuned to the desired pitch.

Figure 6 shows portions of two di'i'lferent types of pins which may be conveniently used instead oi? pin 19 shown in iiioure It can be readily seen that by vathe pitch of the worm wheel and worm very fine adjustments of the string may be obtained.

Having thus described his invention the inventor reserves :for himself the right to make alterations, changes and amendments within the purview of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. A stringed instrument key comprising in combination a frame adapted to be secured within the peg box of a stringed instrument, said frame being shaped so as to form a pair of parallel spaced arms having circular openings and a pair oi opp sitely disposed projections cut away at their free ends, a hollow worm wheel, provided with a tubular extension, rotatably mounted within the openings of said parallel arms, said tubular extension having a hole formed therein near the Worm portion, a pin adapted to fit into said hole, a peg removably secured within the peg box, adapted to extend through the anmilar openings in the arms of said frame and the hollow oi. the worm wheel, the latter rotatably engaging the peg, and a worm provided with a milled head the threaded portion oi? which being mounted between the oppositely disposed projections of said frame, said worm being adapted to engage the teeth or the worm wheel.

2. A stringed instrument key comprising in combination a frame adapted to be secured within the peg box of a stringed instrument, said frame being provided with a pair oit' oppositely disposed. arms having circular openings and a pair of parallel inwardly projecting members. a hollow worm wheel provided with a tubular extension rotatably mounted in the openings oi? said arms, a pin ren'iovably secured in said tubular extension adapted to receive one end of a string, a peg removably secured in the peg box, said peg being adapted to pass through the annular openings in the arms of the frame and the hollow in the worm wheel, a worm rotatably mounted by the inwardly projecting members ott said frame adapted to engage the teeth of the worm wheel, and means for facilitating the operation of said worm.

3. In a stringed instrument key the combination of frame, provided with side arms and dependent ears, said side arms being at rigln angles to said dependent ears, a worm wheel, provided with a drum portion, rotatably mounted in said side arms, a worm rotatably mounted by said ears, means for attaching one end oi an instrument string to the drum, said worm and worm wheel being so disposed relative to each other that when the worm is caused to rotate in one direction the string winds around the drum. and when same is caused to rotate in the opposite direction the string unwinds.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 9th day of December A. D, 1920.

APOb 1L1) ANAGNOST. 

